Irish traditional music, old-time music, experimental/modern classical, literate singer-songwriters, rockin' string sections, performance art: the Rachel's, Dervish, Danu, Liz Doherty, Wilie Clancy, U2, Radiohead, Mum, Bjork, Bob Wills, Hauschka, Liz Carroll, The North Sea, Ethel, Efterklang, Her Space Holiday, Jurassic 5, RJD2, Sigur Ros, Charles Ives, Aaron Copeland, Jim Moray, Regina Spektor, Rufus Wainwright, Porsches on the Autobahn.
Perhaps the biggest influences have been friendships with other great musician-friends: Sarah Wilfong, Mimi Rabson, Andy Eggleston, Katie Concra, Valerie Thompson, Tina Lech, Ted Davis, Isaac Alderson, John Brennan, John McGillian, Martin Langer, James Hamilton, George Keith, Andy Collins, Nick Knouf.
Classically trained since age seven, Cara discovered traditional Irish music while visiting Ireland as a teenager. She soon returned to live in Ireland, where she cut her teeth among the local musicians in Galway. She later returned to the U.S. to study at Berklee College of Music, and graduated in 2006 with a BM in violin performance.
Cara has appeared all over the U.S. and Europe as a violinist and fiddle player, including concert dates and teaching engagements in Europe and North America. She has appeared as a featured guest with artists such as the Three Irish Tenors, The Chieftains, Mustang Sally, and Ceili Rain, and she performs annually at the Philadelphia Irish Festival and the Boston Celtic Music Festival. Her playing has also been featured on numerous radio shows, including "The Folk Show" on WXPN Philadelphia and on WUMB Boston. Cara is an active part of the Irish traditional music scene in Boston as a teacher, session leader and performer.
